Empowering Immigration Courts Act

II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1051 To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the contempt authority of immigration judges, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 25, 2021 Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the contempt authority of immigration judges, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Empowering Immigra- 4 tion Courts Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. CONTEMPT AUTHORITY OF IMMIGRATION JUDGES. 6 Section 240(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality 7 Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(1)) is amended by striking 8 ‘‘(under regulations prescribed by the Attorney General) 9 to sanction by civil money penalty any action (or inaction) 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:36 Apr 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1051.IS S1051 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 1051 IS in contempt of the judge’s proper exercise of authority 1 under this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘to sanction by fine con- 2 tempt of its authority in accordance with section 401 of 3 title 18, United States Code’’. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:36 Apr 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S1051.IS S1051 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS